discipleship

don’t worry … be happy?!

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don’t worry … be happy?!

Have you ever been struck by what kind of a basically happy person Jesus was?
This may come as a suprise to many people, especially in this time of lent. They look at Jesus as a man of sorrow, acquainted with grief.

But in the centre of Jesus’ famous sermon on the mount there is a passage about joy and living our lives in the present before God and without sorrow. In his teaching, Jesus refers to heaven as a place not far from here and now. It is something that we can experience today!

How? That’s what we will talk about coming Sunday!

We look forward to see you and discover together more about what Rev. Hans-Jan Roosenbrand will tell us about this exciting topic!

Religion in secret? – Service Sunday Feb. 11

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Religion in secret?

Christian faith is a private matter. That is the general opinion about religion in Dutch society. You can believe whatever you want, but do not reach out to convince another person. Is that not exactly what Jesus says: “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6)?

What does Jesus mean, why do we have to pray in secret? This Sunday the sermon will be about this statement of Jesus! You are most welcome to join and find out more!

Pastor Simon van der Lugt

Dealing with conflicts – following Jesus

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Dealing with conflicts – following Jesus

Nobody of us is excluded from conflicts. Where people live together conflicts may slumber. When we cooperate in study and work, or among friends and family members all of a sudden a problem can pop up. Somebody neglects you, seems to despise you, hurts you or even abuses you. It stirs up anger and a longing to make him or her pay for it. How do you deal with that? Are you able not to feel abused and victimized? Are you able to refrain from retaliation, and -by the way- is it necessary?

Jesus taught his followers even not to resist evil, not to retaliate, but to love their enemies. What did He mean, how is that possible?

Great people in history have taken Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount to the extreme in advocating for full tolerance and a non-violent approach to all kinds of evil. The Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy, the well-known champion for peace Gandhi in India and the Quakers in North America are famous for it.

How is it possible not to cook anger and not to want revenge? To bless those who hurt you and to pray for the ones who persecute you? It seems impossible indeed and completely opposite to common human experience. Does Jesus ask that we surrender ourselves to be treated like a doormat? Let us explore together to what Jesus calls his disciples and why, and how it applies to our day-to-day experience. They should be really different from what is common practice in society because they reflect the kindness of God. Indeed, it is impossible for sons of Adam and daughters of Eve. But what Jesus demands, He also makes possible by His Spirit who wants to renew and restore the image of God in us. The Spirit of Him, who loved enemies till the bitter end, will help us to refrain from retaliation, to forgive and to love those who hurt us. See and hear more in the church service of ICF Delft on Sunday, 4th of February.

Potluck Lunch after the Service

After the service we will have potluck lunch together! Just bring something to eat to share so we will have enough for everyone (doesn’t have to be homemade). Also invite your friends to join us and lets all have fellowship with one another!

Pastor Niek

 

Read your Bible, pray every day!

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Read your Bible, pray every day!

You might be familiar with this children’s song. Children always like to sing it and they make movements with their arms and hands while singing!
The truth in this children’s song is less easy to put in practice for adults. Most of us are very busy with study, work, family issues and much more.
Therefore, for the honour of God and for keeping ourselves healthy spiritually we should not forget to feed ourselves from the Word of God and to express our thankfulness and dependency in prayer. 

There is a wealth of websites and materials to help you with it. Especially when you are new to Christian faith and want to grow in Christian understanding and practice, here is a number of recommendations for you. (If a link may not work, copy it and paste it into your browser.)

We hope and pray that it will help you to discover more about the beauty and truth of Christian faith!
Pastor Niek

If you want to use a good guide to read the Bible, we recommend:

* Alan M Stibbs ‘A devotional guide to the Bible’
* Ro Willoughby ‘Quiet time Companion’
* Chronical Life Application Bible
You can order by www.amazon.com or (in Dutch) by: www.bol.com
Click on ‘Look inside’ and you can read quite a few days to get an idea how it works and try it out. Also recommended: www.bibleinoneyear.org

If you want some tools on how to study the Bible, you can go to:

http://www.desiringgod.org/topics/suffering/labs Watch 9 minute sessions on how to study the Bible inductively.
www.biblegateway.com/resources/scripture-engagement

You can also listen to the Bible being read,

if you find it hard to sit still and read:
www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Gen.1 or on the Olive Tree App (see below)

Websites that give you many more tools for studying the Bible,

like different translations, Greek and Hebrew original text, more elaborated Bible studies about different subjects and Bible commentaries:
www.biblehub.com
www.olivetree.com
www.bible.com/reading-plans-collection/423

For Chinese speakers:
www.csmn.nl  (Go to ‘resources’ – several resources in Mandarin/Chinese)
www.bridgeschinesenetwork.com/resources
www.biblegateway.com/app/ Bible Study App. You can also find the Bible in many different languages here, so if you ever want to show someone something in their language you can find the text in their language.

Devotional Bible reading guides

www.biblegateway.com/devotionals
http://www.g4er.tk/books/my-utmost-for-his-highest.pdf

Special: The Bible Project

The Bible Project is a plan for reading through the Bible. It is very helpful for people who don’t find it easy to get into reading. It is a unique series of short videos (6-8 minutes long) giving an overview of each book of the Bible, plus short films on other Bible themes.

www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLH0Szn1yYNeeVFodkI9J_WEATHQCwRZ0u
-> Read through Scripture – Old Testament
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Dv4-n6OYGI&list=PLH0Szn1yYNecanpQqdixWAm3zHdhY2kPR
-> Read through Scripture – New Testament
Get it printed here: drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B0RzviGbbYgVWmh4aEdaYnRlZW8

For signing up for weekly newsletters which give you the reading plan and videos to watch plus a blog with extra teaching about the reading for that week: thebibleproject.com/reading-plan

Week of Prayer for Unity – Saturday, Jan. 27

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Week of Prayer for Unity

When: Saturday 27 January 2018, 7:30 PM
Where: Mount Zion Int, Krakeelpolderweg, Delft

Program

19.30 – 19.35           Prayer of thanks and mercy of God            Mount Zion Int
19.35 – 19.45           Praise and worship
19.45 – 20.00           Exhortation                                                      Pastor Hyacinth Nwosu
20.00 – 20.05          Prayer for Churches                                      ICF

  • Prayer for unity among churches in Delft and the grace to remain focused on Jesus Christ.
  • Ask for the power of the Holy Spirit to fall on us and cause revival in Delft-salvation of souls.
  • Pray for our persecuted brethren in various places in the world

20.05 – 20.10         Praise and worship
20.10 – 20.15          Prayer for Delft                                                Evangelist Solomon

  • Ask God to destroy every stronghold in our city
  • Those in authority in Delft city and Netherlands for Godly wisdom
  • Pray for institutions in Delft and students (TU, IHE)

20.15 – 20.20          Worship
20.20 – 20.25         Prayer for families                                         Mount Zion Int.

  • Pray for the family-peace, against the spirit of divorce.
  • Pray for our children and youth, that they may know Christ.
  • Pray for protection of families against evil
  • Pray that God may raise up the Christian families and that they become light in the city of Delft

20.25 – 20.30           Closing remarks and closing prayer            ICF

Time to have fellowship with each other!

Intended for royal duty – Service on Jan. 21

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Intended for royal duty

Who is actually a good person?

When do you consider somebody a good person? Maybe you say: when he or she is honest, sensitive, cooperative, non-judging. We like it when people take responsibility, show love and care for others. But do you think that others see you as a good person? Maybe you have reasons to disagree with them, if they do!
Jesus’ teaching about who is a good (honest, righteous) person shocked the people in his days.

Surpassing goodness

In Jesus’ days rabbis (explainers and teachers of the law) made a lot of study of what it means to live a good life: what to avoid, what to do, how to fulfil your duties. And they practiced what they preached! They were keen on living an upright and holy life. But Jesus shocked the people, in particular his students, by saying: ‘Unless your goodness surpasses that of the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.’

Can you be a good (pure, responsible, righteous) person by ‘keeping to all the rules’? Several of Jesus’ contemporaries thought that they were able to achieve that. But Jesus indicated that they failed, because they missed the most essential in obeying Gods commands: humility and love. The two most important commandments in God’s Kingdom are: ‘Love the Lord, your God, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.’, and: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Love always looks beyond the rules. It acknowledges the ‘spirit of the law’. Love is not satisfied with obeying the rules; rather it seeks to do well.

His law written in our heart

How is this ‘overflowing goodness’ possible? By our own means it is impossible. Who can say: ‘I am able to avoid even the slightest sign of envy, jealousy, bitterness or greed’? It is Jesus who is able to restore the love for God and for our neighbour in our life. He has sacrificed himself for it. If we repent from our old life and believe in him, He has intended us to become citizens in the kingdom of his Father. Not just subjects, even citizens in the position of king and queen! It is an honour and joy to live for Him and to express our love for the people around, because his law is written in our heart. Do you believe that He has destined you for royal duty as well?

Discover and hear more about Jesus’ teaching and why it is relevant for us today! Be welcome on Sunday, January 21!

Taste and see that God is good

In the service we read part of the Bible (this Sunday Matthew 5: 17-37) and we also celebrate the Holy Communion. The Holy Communion is a special celebration of what Jesus did for us. In HC we receive a piece of bread and a little bit of wine as signs of his broken body and shed blood. All who confess Him as their Saviour and Lord are very welcome to partake. If you are still unsure or searching to know God, you may come for a blessing, and we warmly invite you to ask for a personal prayer after the service.

 

Pastor Niek Tramper

“Season with salt and pepper.”

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“Season with salt and pepper.”

You often read this sentence in recipes. Why do you use salt in preparing your food? It adds flavor to the dish. Do you know that Jesus once said “You are the salt of the earth.” (Matthew 5:13)? 

Who does He have in mind? What does He teach his audience? Can you refuse to be ‘salty’?

Pastor Simon van der Lugt will look with us into Matthew 5:13-16. We want to find out what Jesus meant when he talked about the salt. Therefore come and be welcome on Sunday, January 14, in our church service at ICF Delft. We look forward to seeing you there! 

Amazingly different! Service on Jan. 7 with Potluck Lunch

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Amazingly different!

What characterizes a disciple of Jesus? It is very strange to hear something like this: to be poor in spirit, to mourn, to be meek, or to be persecuted. Indeed completely contrary to core values in our society focusing intellectual achievements, self-development and assertiveness!

Why did Jesus describe his disciples like this? Do we need this kind of people in the church and in our society? The answer may sound astonishing again: more than ever! Hear more about the ‘why’ and about Jesus’ invitation to radical discipleship in the service of ICF Delft on 7 January 2018! This will be the first service in our new series on the ‘Sermon on the Mount’. Join us in the following weeks and discover with us what Jesus calls his disciples to do!

 

ICF Delft Potluck Lunch

After the service we will have a Potluck lunch at the Génestet church Oude Delft 102.
This will work like usual: Everyone brings some food to church, either savoury or sweet, enough for 8-10 people. There are limited warming options in the kitchen (a small microwave, and electric plates).  You could bring, homemade or shop-bought (for example savoury dish, vegetables, rice, bread, cheese, snacks, dessert, biscuits, tart, fresh fruit or vla). Everything is welcome!

Also feel free to invite friends too. If you have non-Christian friends who aren’t ready to attend a church service but who may like to meet some Christians they are welcome to join us after the service. We are looking forward to meet everyone!

New series of sermons on Matthew 5 – 7 in ICF-Delft

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An impressive and radical sermon

On Sunday 7 January a new series of sermons starts in ICF-Delft. This series is about an impressive and very radical sermon that Jesus delivered on a hillside about 2000 years ago. Later on it is called ‘The Sermon on the Mount’. Jesus deals with all kinds of life issues, the relationship with God and the relationship with fellow people. He illustrates the big difference between the disciples and the world around. Followers of Him not only love their friends, but also their enemies. They are not concerned and will not be afraid in difficult times because they trust God as their caring father. They don’t do things in order to be seen or gain something from it…But doesn’t this sound impossible? Where can you find a church with such a profile? Jesus’ words are a call to transforming discipleship that only He is able to realize in our life.

Longing for revival

Many people, including non-Christians, have been impressed by this ‘Sermon on the Mount’. Mahatma Gandhi admired this teaching of Jesus, and considered it as ‘ideal for social renewal’. The English pastor Martyn Lloyd Jones preached a series of 60 sermons about it in London because he saw how compromised and shallow the life of Christians was, halfway the last century. He longed for a revival in the church and in the (Western) society. I recognize his longing. I think that there are plenty reasons to listen to Jesus’ words in the sermon on the mount today.

Pastor Niek Tramper